Chatswood

Population growth drivers in Chatswood are slightly above average based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium term trends

Based on analysis of ABS population updates for the broader area, and new addresses validated by AreaSearch, the suburb of Chatswood's population is estimated at around 27,579 as of Feb 2026. This reflects an increase of 2,026 people (7.9%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 25,553 people. The change is inferred from the resident population of 27,219, estimated by AreaSearch following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2024 and an additional 120 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 5,504 persons per square kilometer, which lies in the top 10% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Chatswood's 7.9% growth since the 2021 census exceeded the SA4 region (5.8%), along with the SA3 area, marking it as a growth leader in the region. Population growth for the suburb was primarily driven by overseas migration that contributed approximately 93.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For any SA2 areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch is utilising the NSW State Government's SA2 level projections, released in 2022 with 2021 as the base year. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are also applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Moving forward with demographic trends, an above median population growth of national statistical areas is projected, with the suburb expected to expand by 4,320 persons to 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting a gain of 14.4% in total over the 17 years.

Recent residential development output has been above average within Chatswood when compared nationally

Based on AreaSearch analysis, Chatswood had approximately 49 dwelling approvals annually over the past five financial years, totalling around 249 homes. As of FY-26, seven approvals have been recorded. Historically, about 4.5 people moved to the area per dwelling built yearly between FY-21 and FY-25, indicating high demand outpacing supply. The average construction cost for new dwellings was $932,000, suggesting a focus on premium properties.

In FY-26, commercial development approvals amounted to $30.8 million. Compared to Greater Sydney, Chatswood had significantly lower building activity, 70.0% below the regional average per person. This scarcity typically strengthens demand and prices for existing properties. Nationally, Chatswood's building activity was also lower, reflecting market maturity and possible development constraints. The dwelling approvals were predominantly townhouses or apartments (84.0%) with a minority of detached dwellings (16.0%). Future projections estimate Chatswood to add around 3,960 residents by 2041, potentially outpacing housing supply growth at current development rates, which could heighten buyer competition and support price increases.

Future projections show Chatswood adding 3,960 residents by 2041 (from the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate). At current development rates, housing supply may struggle to match population growth, potentially heightening buyer competition and supporting price increases.

Chatswood has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 10% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 47 projects likely affecting the region. Notable initiatives include Chatswood Chase Redevelopment, Coronation Property Mixed-Use Development, Chatswood Grand Residences, and Hammond Greens Chatswood. The following list details those most relevant.

Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.

Denotes AI-based impression for illustrative purposes only, not to be taken as definitive under any circumstances. Please follow links and conduct other investigations from the project's source for actual imagery. Developers and project owners wishing us to use original imagery please Contact Us and we will do so.

Chatswood shows employment indicators that trail behind approximately 70% of regions assessed across Australia

Chatswood's workforce is highly educated with significant representation in the technology sector. The unemployment rate was 5.5% as of December 2025. Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 0.6%.

As of December 2025, 14,604 residents were employed while the unemployment rate was 1.4% higher than Greater Sydney's rate of 4.2%. Workforce participation in Chatswood was 66.7%, lower than Greater Sydney's 70.2%. According to Census responses, 56.2% of residents worked from home. Leading employment industries were professional & technical, health care & social assistance, and finance & insurance.

The area showed strong specialization in professional & technical services with an employment share 1.6 times the regional level. However, construction was under-represented at 4.4%, compared to Greater Sydney's 8.6%. There were 0.9 workers for each resident as of the Census, indicating substantial local employment opportunities. Over the year to December 2025, employment increased by 0.6% while labour force increased by 1.3%, causing the unemployment rate to rise by 0.7 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Sydney experienced employment growth of 2.2%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest potential future demand within Chatswood. These projections estimate national employment growth at 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Chatswood's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 7.4% over five years and 14.8% over ten years, though this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes.

The economic profile demonstrates above-average performance, with income metrics exceeding national benchmarks based on AreaSearch comparative assessment

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2023 shows that median income in Chatswood is $54,122 and average income is $91,234. This compares to Greater Sydney's median income of $60,817 and average income of $83,003. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.86% since financial year 2023, estimated current incomes are approximately $58,917 (median) and $99,317 (average) as of September 2025. Census data indicates that household, family, and personal incomes in Chatswood fall around the 73rd percentile nationally. Income brackets show that 30.3% of locals (8,356 people) earn between $1,500 - 2,999 per week, similar to broader trends across the area at 30.9%. Notably, 35.0% of residents earn above $3,000/week, suggesting strong economic capacity in Chatswood. High housing costs consume 20.3% of income but strong earnings place disposable income at the 68th percentile nationally. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 9th decile.

Chatswood features a more urban dwelling mix with significant apartment living, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

The dwelling structure in Chatswood, as per the latest Census data, consisted of 27.9% houses and 72.0% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In comparison, Sydney metro had a dwelling structure of 55.9% houses and 44.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Chatswood was at 27.1%, with mortgaged dwellings at 20.8% and rented dwellings at 52.0%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $2,858, higher than Sydney metro's average of $2,427. The median weekly rent figure for Chatswood was recorded at $577, compared to Sydney metro's $470. Nationally, Chatswood's mortgage repayments were significantly higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.

Chatswood features high concentrations of group households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households account for 70.6% of all households, including 33.1% couples with children, 25.5% couples without children, and 10.3% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 29.4%, consisting of 24.0% lone person households and 5.3% group households. The median household size is 2.5 people, which is smaller than the Greater Sydney average of 2.7.

Chatswood demonstrates exceptional educational outcomes, ranking among the top 5% of areas nationally based on AreaSearch's comprehensive analysis of qualification and performance metrics

Chatswood's residents aged 15 and above have a notably higher educational attainment than national averages. Specifically, 58.0% of Chatswood residents hold university qualifications, surpassing Australia's 30.4% and NSW's 32.2%. This significant educational advantage suggests strong potential for knowledge-based opportunities in the area. Bachelor degrees are the most prevalent at 35.6%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (19.6%) and graduate diplomas (2.8%).

Vocational pathways account for 17.4% of qualifications among those aged 15 and above, with advanced diplomas making up 10.1% and certificates 7.3%. Educational participation is notably high in Chatswood, with 31.8% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 8.9% in primary education, 8.2% in tertiary education, and 7.1% pursuing secondary education.

Transport servicing is high compared to other areas nationally based on assessment of service frequency, route connectivity and accessibility

Chatswood has 121 active public transport stops operating within it. These include train, light rail, and bus services. There are 100 individual routes that collectively provide 21,637 weekly passenger trips. Residents have excellent transport accessibility, typically located 130 meters from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward due to its primarily residential nature. Car is the dominant mode of transport at 50%, followed by train at 21% and walking at 17%.

Vehicle ownership averages 0.6 per dwelling, below the regional average. According to the 2021 Census, 56.2% of residents work from home, which may reflect COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency averages 3,091 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 178 weekly trips per individual stop. The accompanying map shows the 100 nearest stops to the location centrepoint.

Chatswood's residents boast exceedingly positive health performance metrics with very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups

Chatswood's health outcomes show remarkable results based on AreaSearch's assessment. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are very low across all age groups. Approximately 63% of Chatswood's total population (17,349 people) has private health cover, compared to Greater Sydney's 59.9%.

Nationally, the average is 55.7%. Asthma and mental health issues are the most common conditions, affecting 4.4 and 4.2% of residents respectively. 81.5% of residents report no medical ailments, higher than Greater Sydney's 74.6%. Chatswood has 15.2% of residents aged 65 and over (4,192 people). Health outcomes among seniors are strong, aligning with national rankings for the general population.

Chatswood is among the most culturally diverse areas in the country based on AreaSearch assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Chatswood, as of the Australian Bureau of Statistics Census Data from 2016, has a population where 63.7% speak languages other than English at home and 64.3% were born overseas. Christianity is the predominant religion in Chatswood with 34.1%. Buddhism, however, is more prevalent here compared to Greater Sydney, comprising 7.6% versus 4.1%.

The top three ancestry groups are Chinese (36.5%), Other (14.5%), and English (11.8%). Notably, Korean ancestry is overrepresented at 4.7% compared to the regional average of 1.1%, while Russian remains similar at 0.4%. Indian ancestry also shows a slight overrepresentation at 3.8% versus 3.6%.

Chatswood's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

Chatswood's median age is 37, matching Greater Sydney's figure of 37 and closely resembling Australia's median age of 38. The 35-44 age group constitutes 16.7% of Chatswood's population, higher than Greater Sydney's percentage. Conversely, the 0-4 age group makes up only 3.9%. Between 2021 and present, the 15-24 age group has increased from 11.0% to 14.3%, while the 35-44 cohort has decreased from 18.1% to 16.7% and the 0-4 group has fallen from 5.0% to 3.9%. By 2041, demographic projections indicate significant shifts in Chatswood's age structure. The 45-54 age group is expected to grow by 25%, rising from 3,640 to 4,539 people. Meanwhile, both the 0-4 and 35-44 age groups are projected to decrease.